Flexible Laser Optic (FLO)

A unique scanning optic that can be paired with a variety of extremely high power laser sources up to 15 kW, using water-cooled mirrors and a special compact high power drive. The FLO automatically locates the weld line, closed loop with the physical beam steering, separate from the motion of the robotic manipulator. Originally developed for laser welding of thick section materials, the system has also been installed for sheet metal welding, spot and stitch welding, and wide area robotic laser cleaning and cladding. The system requires only minimal interfacing with the laser machine or robot, making setup and changeover an efficient operation.

Features and Benefits

Full 3D capability

Integrated autofocus

Quick mount and minimal interfacing to motion system

Optional seam tracking and quality monitoring

Varying weld lines and materials

Shipbuilding

Laser welding of sandwich panels

Benefits

Oscillating laser focus results in a wide weld bead in a single path

High quality weld from the side or through the top plate eliminates flipping of large plates